Former Arsenal and France star
Robert Pires has announced his retirement from football at the age of 42,
more than a year after his last game.
The Frenchman won the Premier
League title twice with the Gunners, also contributing to three FA Cup
triumphs and a run to the 2006 Champions League final during his time
in North London.
Pires told beIN
Sports: "I'm 42 so at a certain point you have to stop, you have
to say stop and then above all leave your place to young players," adding
"my last experience was in India."
The former star had discussed a
continuation of his career, even training at Arsenal earlier this season
in an attempt to keep his fitness levels high and encourage clubs to come after
him, but no contract followed.
He said: "The final
of the Champions League in 2006 precipitated my departure from Arsenal. It
was hard and I no longer had the confidence of Arsene Wenger."
Source : 90mins
Former Arsenal and France star
Robert Pires has announced his retirement from football at the age of 42,
more than a year after his last game.
The Frenchman won the Premier
League title twice with the Gunners, also contributing to three FA Cup
triumphs and a run to the 2006 Champions League final during his time
in North London.
Pires told beIN
Sports: "I'm 42 so at a certain point you have to stop, you have
to say stop and then above all leave your place to young players," adding
"my last experience was in India."
Nearly 18 years after the 1998
World Cup final, Pires becomes the last member of the triumphant French squad
to retire, after David Trezeguet hung up his boots around a year ago.
Both Trezeguet and Pires played
in the Indian Super League in the latter stages of their respective careers,
Pires leaving FC Goa when he was released after the end of the 2014
season.
The former star had discussed a
continuation of his career, even training at Arsenal earlier this season
in an attempt to keep his fitness levels high and encourage clubs to come after
him, but no contract followed.
In the interview with beIN
Sports where he announced his retirement, Pires also touched on the 2006
Champions League final - his last game for Arsenal, which saw him taken off
after just 18 minutes for a replacement goalkeeper when Jens Lehmann was sent
off.
He said: "The final
of the Champions League in 2006 precipitated my departure from Arsenal. It
was hard and I no longer had the confidence of Arsene Wenger."
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